Organizational Communication
COM 3120
Instructor:
Raquel Perez
Phone:
(305) 348-4686
Office:
GL 486
Fax:
(305) 348-6272
Course Description
The link between organizational culture and communication is noticed mostly when employees or
managers want to change something about the organization or when an organization needs to address
a problem with the media. Indeed, employees across many levels frequently report that
communication is an issue in their organization. Despite this awareness, communication is often
taken for granted and simultaneously lauded as being responsible for achieving organizational goals
or blamed as the root of organizational problems. Therefore, given the role of organizational
communication in developing and sustaining organizational culture this course will help you evaluate
the important role communication plays in an organization.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, you should be able to:
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Identify the three perspectives of organizational communication.
Identify the four theories of organization communication.
Describe strategic organizational communication.
Analyze the strategic communication practices of an existing company to determine the
effectiveness of their communication.
Expectations of this Course
The following guidelines will create a respectful and productive learning environment throughout the
semester.
You can expect me:
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To start and end class on time;
To reply to e-mails within 24 hours on weekdays and 48 hours on weekends;
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To assign homework that adequately covers the material and meets the learning objectives of
the course while adhering to the time expectations for a 3 credit course;
To give exams that accurately reflects the material covered in class and assigned in
homework.
I can expect you:
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Attend all class sessions on time;
To be attentive and engaged in class;
Purchase the textbook within the first week of class;
To refrain from using laptops, cell phones and other electronic devices during class (outside of
class activities);
To spend an adequate amount of time on the homework each week;
Create a calendar consisting of the assignments and their respective due dates;
Follow instructions and ask questions when you are uncertain of the course material.
Course Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
REQUIRED E-BOOK
Course ID:
You need to purchase access to your instructor's MyComLab section,
where your course material and special FIU edition eBook are located. You
can purchase an access code from the FIU Bookstore OR direct access
from the publisher, Pearson.
MyComLab Instructions:
To enroll in a typical course, a student needs to have a:
• Student access code, a valid credit card, or a PayPal account– Students get an
access code with a new book purchase or by buying the code separately in a student access kit/card at the
campus bookstore. Students can also buy access to a course online with a credit card or PayPal account while
they are enrolling.
• The student access code is nontransferable and can be used only once.
To purchase course access online
• Go to the MyLab and Mastering website and click Student in the Register area. Enter the Course ID provided
by your instructor and click Continue. After verifying your course information, enter your username and
password, and click Sign In. If you don’t have a Pearson account, click Create an account. Complete the Create
an Account page. Helpful hints display to guide you. Read and accept the license agreement. Click Create
Account. Select the button for the access level you want. Select whether you want to pay with a credit card or
use PayPal and enter payment information. Click Review to review your order details. If you need to change
anything, click the Change link. Click Make Payment to submit your order. Click Go to Your Course to access
your online course.
Register and Enroll in a New Subject
• Go to the MyLab and Mastering website and click Student in the Register area. Enter the course ID you
received from your instructor for your new course, and click Continue. Follow the instructions to either: Use a
student access code, purchase access online, or request temporary access. To use a student access code: Go to
the MyLab and Mastering website and click Student in the Register area. Enter the course ID provided by your
instructor and click Continue. After verifying your course information, enter your username and password, and
click Sign In. If you don’t have a Pearson account, click Create an account. Complete the Create an Account
page. Helpful hints display to guide you. Read and accept the license agreement. Click Create Account. Click
Access Code and enter your six-word access code in the boxes. Click Finish to complete your registration.
Click Go to Your Course to access your online course.
For more help with registration, go to the Get Started for Students area of the MyLab and Mastering website.
For instructions on registration, watch the Register for your course videos.
Policies
Attendance
Class attendance is an essential part of the educational process at Florida International University, and
students are expected to attend all classes for which they are registered to facilitate their academic
success. Your absences are calculated from the first official day of class. You are expected to attend
class on time and are expected to remain in class for the duration of the published class time. You are
permitted 1 unexcused absence. You are responsible for the knowledge, skills and abilities not
acquired due to absences and for assignments made or due from the first official day of class.
Understanding that circumstances may arise, including but not limited to illness of the student or an
immediate family member, accidents, death of an immediate family member, jury duty, court
appearance, religious holy day, or involuntary call of military personnel to active duty, which are,
upon presentation of official documentation, determined to be excused absences. Participation in
college related events which you required to attend by the club sponsor and which have been
approved by the appropriate Dean will also be excused. When such an absence occurs, you are
responsible for providing official documentation of the reason for the absence and make-up work will
be accepted.
Acceptance of Late Assignments
The departmental and course policies governing the acceptance of late assignments were adopted for
the purpose of ensuring each student in the course is treated fairly and held to the same objective
standards. The department, in adopting the late assignment policy, concluded that it was reasonable
for students enrolled in an online class to be responsible for the following:
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to understand and to respect an assignment's posted due date
to read and to abide by the course policies posted within syllabus
As such, requests for extensions related to the mismanaging of one's time, unfamiliarity with course
policies contained within the syllabus, and/or not following an assignment's posted submission
instructions are not compelling reasons for an instructor to grant an extension and will, therefore, be
denied.
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All documentation related to medical emergencies must be dated, signed by a licensed
medical professional, and contain the licensed medical professional's contact number. It is
expected that such documentation will be submitted no later than one week after the
assignment's due date. Supporting medical documentation is always kept confidential.
Once again, the departmental policies and procedures were adopted for the purpose of ensuring that
all students in a class are treated fairly and are evaluated using the same objective standards. Your
understanding and cooperation are both greatly appreciated.
Policy for Assigning an incomplete "I" Grade
An incomplete grade is a temporary symbol given for work not completed because of serious
interruption not caused by the student's own negligence. An incomplete must be made up as quickly
as possible, but no later than, two consecutive semesters after the initial taking of the course or it will
automatically default to an "F" or the grade that the student earned in the course. There is no
extension of the two semester deadline. The student must not register again for the course to make up
the incomplete. Students who have incomplete grades on their records must remove the incomplete
by the end of the fourth week of the term in which they plan to graduate. Failure to do so will result in
a cancellation of graduation.
Incompletes are awarded only if the student has completed most of the course work. If a student
misses a significant portion of the course work, he/she should drop the course. If the drop period has
ended, the student may petition for a withdrawal—this requires the student to un-enroll in all of their
courses for that semester.
Incompletes are not to be used because a student took on too many credits and they cannot complete
everything that is now required of them.
In such cases where the course instructor determines that it appropriate to award a student a grade of
"I" (incomplete) the following steps must be followed.
Using an Official University Form the course instructor will report the following:
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The grade earned by the student to date.
The missing work and the percentage of the final grade it represents (this requires the details
of the specific missing assignment).
The date the instructor expects the missing work to be submitted or in the case of an
examination made up.
The justification for awarding the grade of "I".
Have the student sign the form.
Submit this form to the Department Chair and Dean and maintain a copy for instructor records
and provide a copy for the student.
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Upon satisfying the requirements for a grade the instructor will sign off on the form and attach
it to the change of grade form she or he will submit.
Academic Misconduct
Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge
through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and
community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to
learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to
adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow
students, and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University to
understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the
Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Handbook. This Code of
Academic Integrity was adopted by the Student Government Association on November 28, 2001
and reflects the values articulated in the Student Code of Standards.
All students are deemed by the university to understand that if they are found responsible for
academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Code of Academic Integrity's procedures and
sanctions, as outlined in the FIU Student Handbook. Students have the right to due process in all
disciplinary situations. For additional information concerning student rights and responsibilities,
please contact FIU's Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution.
Academic misconduct will not be tolerated in this class. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Violations
of academic integrity will be punished. These violations involve the use of any method or technique
enabling you to misrepresent the quality or integrity of any of your university related work.
University Learning Center
The FIU University Learning Center is available on both campuses to support you. They provide
personalized attention tailored to your needs in a user-friendly environment that includes online
support. You can get help writing a paper, reading more efficiently and increasing textbook
comprehension, or even creating an individualized learning plan. The center is located in PC 247
(305-348-2180) on the main campus and at ACI 160 (305-919-5927) on the Biscayne Bay campus.
Find them online at https://ugrad.fiu.edu/cas/learning/index.html
Disability Clause
Students with disabilities, as defined by law, have the right to receive needed accommodations if their
disabilities make it difficult to perform academic tasks in the usual way or in the allotted time frame.
In order to receive accommodation, however, students with must register with Disability Resource
Center:
University Park Campus, GC 190
Voice: (305) 348-3532
TTY: (305) 348-3852
Fax: (305) 348-3850
Email: drcupgl@fiu.edu
Religious Holidays
The University's policy on religious holy days as stated in the University Catalog and Student
Handbook will be followed in this class. Any student may request to be excused from an online class
to observe a religious holy day of his or her faith.
Code of Student Conduct
A University is a learning community following a tradition more than 1,000 years old. Florida
International University is such a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge
through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and
community service. As a member of this community:
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I will respect the tradition of academic inquiry, the University's rules of conduct, and its
mission.
I will respect the opinions and differences of all members of the FIU community.
I will practice civility and demonstrate conduct that reflects the values of the institution.
I will be diligent and honest in my personal and academic endeavors.
The FIU Student Handbook outlines the Student Code of Conduct regarding students with disruptive
behavior.
Course Content
Please read the weekly calendar carefully. You are fully responsible for completing the assignments
by the assigned dates. This requires that you read ahead as some assignments may take you more time
and research than others. This course will consist of the following assignments:
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Weekly Assignments: Each week you will have assignments based on readings, lectures, and
class activities. However, we will be a paperless class. I have set up an online section for this
class. You will complete your weekly assignments in Pearson. In addition, I will post the
class handouts in Pearson as well. This will serve two purposes. The main purpose is to
provide you with what you need if you miss a class. The secondary purpose is to give you
more detail about what to expect before class. I will expect each of you to print out the
agenda and handouts prior to class and bring them to class. Weekly Assignments are due on
Sundays at 11:55 p.m.
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Discussions/Participation: Class participation is a very important part of the learning process
in this course. You will be evaluated on the QUALITY of your contributions and insights.
Quality comments possess one or more of the following properties:
o Offers a different and unique, but relevant, perspective;
o Contributes to moving the discussion and analysis forward;
o Builds on other comments;
o Transcends the “I feel” syndrome. That is, it includes some evidence, argumentation, or
recognition of inherent tradeoffs. In other words, the comment demonstrates some
reflective thinking.
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Exams: There will be 2 exams throughout the semester. They will be a combination of
multiple choice and true/false. The exams will be timed. The exams will have 50 questions
with each question being worth 2 points. The exam is worth 100 points. You will have 120
minutes to complete the exams.
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Organizational Evaluation Project and Presentation: You will work in a group to write
and present an organizational evaluation. You will submit your report to Turnitin.com. You
can find the instructions for the manual in Pearson. The report will comprise of 100 points
toward your grade.
**TURNITIN.COM and Grademark
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Review the detailed Turnitin instructions on how to submit your assignments and how to review
the Grademark comments (feedback) from your professor.
All written assignments must be submitted to Turnitin Dropboxes by the posted deadline.
Assignments submitted by any other means will not be accepted.
Turnitin drop boxes will be available within the Assignment Dropbox link off the course tools
menu on the left hand side of the page within Blackboard.
Within one week after the assignment’s deadline has passed, you will receive written feedback
on your assignment. The written comments on your assignment are accessible using the
GradeMark function within your assignment submission.
Late Submissions must be uploaded in the appropriately labeled “Late Drop Box” by the posted
“Late Assignment Deadline”. Late submissions are only eligible for a maximum of 50% of the
assignments original point value.
Grading
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Weekly Assignments
Discussion/Participation
Mid Term
Final Exam
Training Manual Project and Presentation
Total
WEIGHTS
110 Points
90 Points
100 Points
100 Points
100 Points
500 Points
Percentage
22%
18%
20%
20%
20%
100%
LETTER
RANGE
GRADE
A
460 - 500
A450 - 459
B+
440 - 449
B
410 - 439
COURSE CALENDAR
LETTER
GRADE
BC+
C
C-
RANGE
400 - 409
390 – 399
360 – 389
350 – 359
LETTER
GRADE
D+
D
DF
RANGE
340 – 349
310 – 339
300 – 309
299 and below
Week of the:
Content Focus
Week 1
Chapter 1 Organizational Communication: A
Competency-Based Approach
Chapter 2 Perspective for Organizational
Communication
Chapter 3 Communication Implications of Major
Organizational Theories
Chapter 4 Organizational Communication: Values and
Ethical Communication Behaviors
Chapter 5 Individuals in Organizations
Chapter 6 Groups in Organizations
Chapter 7 Leadership and Management Communication
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Chapter 8 Participating in Organizations: Developing
Critical Organizational Communication Competencies.
Week 6
Organizational Evaluation Collaboration
Week 7
Organizational Evaluation Collaboration
Week 8
Chapter 9 Organizational Conflict: Communicating
Effectiveness
Chapter 10 Strategic Organizational Communication:
Professional Applications of Organizational
Communication.
Spring Break (No School)
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Chapter 11 Organizational Change and Communication
Chapter 12 Career Options for Organizational
Communication.
Organizational Evaluation Collaboration
Week 12
Organizational Evaluation Presentation
Week 13
Organizational Evaluation Presentation
Week 14
Organizational Evaluation Presentation
Disclaimer: The instructor reserves the right to alter the course requirements, schedule, and/or
assignments based on new materials, class discussions, or other legitimate pedagogical
objectives. Students will be given notice of relevant changes in class or via e-mail.